Ultrafine Sb₂O₃ Nanoparticle-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Antimony (Sb)-based materials have shown great potential as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high energy density as well as long lifespan. However, the huge volume variation upon cycling will result in severe capacity fading, thus hindering the practical application of Sb-based anode materials. Herein, an ultrafine Sb2O3 nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite (denoted as Sb2O3/rGO) was developed through a facile thermal decomposition of antimony 2-ethylhexanoate on rGO in the air at low temperatures, where the ultrafine Sb2O3 nanoparticles are homogeneously anchored on the rGO substrate. Benefiting from the rich mesoporous structure, large specific surface area, moderate mass loading, and uniform dispersion of ultrafine Sb2O3 nanoparticles, the optimized Sb2O3/rGO-100 electrode showed enhanced electrode–electrolyte contact area and ion/electron transferability. When applied as an anode material for LIBs, the Sb2O3/rGO-100 electrode exhibited excellent cycling stability and rate performance, delivering a high reversible capacity of 513 mAh g–1 at 0.5 A g–1 after 300 cycles. Ex situ transmission electron microscopy reveals that the nanoscale configuration of rGO and Sb2O3 nanoparticles of Sb2O3/rGO-100 was well maintained, while the bulk Sb2O3 crushed into pieces after cycling, further confirming the robust structure of the composite. More importantly, the synthetic method may also be commonly applied to other metal oxides, which is promising for the development of high-performance next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices.

Wrapping Porous Hierarchical Co3O4 Nanospheres within Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets for High-Performance Lithium Storage

“…42-1467), which suggests that Co has completely oxidized to Co 3 O 4 . , Notably, the typical diffraction peak (∼26°) of graphite cannot be observed, suggesting a good distribution of rGO without stacking. Figure b compares the Raman spectra of Co 3 O 4 /rGO and Co 3 O 4 , and three typical peaks at 189.2, 467.7, and 671.4 cm –1 are detected, corresponding to the F 2g , E g , and A 1g vibration modes of Co–O bond in Co 3 O 4 , respectively, further confirming the pure phase of Co 3 O 4 . − Moreover, two intense peaks at 1350 and 1588 cm –1 are observed in the Co 3 O 4 /rGO composite, which relate to the disordered carbon (D) and graphite carbon (G), respectively. − The intensity ratio ( I D / I G ) is calculated as 1.32, indicating a more disordered structure.…”

“…40 The peak below 0.1 V is related to the insertion of Li + into rGO layers. 30 In the anodic scan, the peak at 2.13 V is ascribed to the oxidation of Co (3Co + 4Li 2 O ↔ Co 3 O 4 + 8Li). 41 From the second cycle onward, the reduction peaks steadily appear at 1.29 and 0.95 V, and the shape of the CV curves becomes well overlapped, suggesting a highly reversible electrochemical reaction.…”

Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Octahedral Sb2O3-rGO as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…In the first cycle, Sb 2 O 3 and Sb 2 O 3 -rGO exhibited similar reactions. As the cathodic current was swept, Sb 2 O 3 -rGO showed two reduction peaks and plateaus, which were well-matched . The formation of the SEI layer and conversion reaction occurred at 1.1 V, and an alloying reaction at 0.58 V produced Li 3 Sb continuously .…”

“…As the cathodic current was swept, Sb 2 O 3 -rGO showed two reduction peaks and plateaus, which were well-matched. 24 The formation of the SEI layer and conversion reaction occurred at 1.1 V, and an alloying reaction at 0.58 V produced Li 3 Sb continuously. 25 The anodic peaks at 1.07 and 1.37 V were related to dealloying and reverse conversion reactions.…”

p–n heterogeneous Sb2S3/SnO2 quantum dot anchored reduced graphene oxide nanosheets for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

“…2b, both the Raman spectra of Sb 2 S 3 /SnO 2 @rGO and Sb 2 S 3 @rGO show two distinct peaks at 1357 and 1583 cm −1 , corresponding to the D-band (lattice defects in the C atoms) and the G-band (vibrations of sp 2 hybridization), respectively, which demonstrates the presence of rGO in these composites. 29 In addition, the characteristic peak intensity ratio of the D-band and G-band ( I D / I G ) is often used to reflect the degree of graphitization and the defect concentration of the material. The I D / I G values of Sb 2 S 3 /SnO 2 @rGO and Sb 2 S 3 @rGO are 1.05 and 1.02, respectively.…”